By Kath Gannaway
THE contribution of Ralph Goode, OBE, to his country and to his home town of Lilydale, will be enshrined in history with a proposal to name the main street cenotaph area, the Ralph Goode Reserve.
The proposal, which Yarra Ranges Council voted unanimously to support, will be put to the Registrar of Geographic Names following a submission by students from Lilydale Primary School.
Mr Goode was the first Lilydale resident to sign up for WW1, and also served in WW2, he wound the clock on the Lilydale clock tower for over 20 years and was on the committee that started the Lilydale Hospital.
His diaries provided a personal account of the day to day life of a stretcher bearer in Egypt, at Gallipoli and throughout the Western Front.
He raised a family and owned the drapers’ shop in Lilydale.
Grade 6 students Keely Miutescu, Amelie Sutherland and Jean-Pascal Sebire represented the school, making a detailed and well-researched presentation at the Council meeting on Tuesday, 14 February.
They said they came up with the idea in 2015 while studying the Centenary of Gallipoli, which coincided with the 150th anniversary of their school.
The students spoke in turn saying they researched many people in the area before deciding on Ralph Goode.
Introducing Mr Goode’s granddaughters, Diane Mutimer, Gail White and Carolyn Graham, and Mount Evelyn military historian and author of a book on Mr Goode, Anthony McAleer, the students said they felt the people of Lilydale should know about such an important man.
“We found out there was no memorial or anything named in his honour, so we thought we might be able to do something about it,” they said.
The councillors one by one congratulated the presenters, Keely, Amelie and Jean-Pascal on the professional presentation and the level of research put before them, saying they had no doubt they had chosen the right person.
Moving the motion, Cr Tim Heenan said a lot of ordinary local people went to war on behalf of their country and had never been given the accolades they should have.
“Mr Goode’s family will be very proud as they pass through Lilydale to see this,” he said.
Cr Mike Clarke praised the students saying “this has come through as a very strong and very justified proposal.
“It has been fully checked out and assessed and you have everyone behind you including the RSL and the Historical Society.”
Cr Fiona McAllister said there were many stories of grandfathers, dads and brothers who went to war and experienced horrific things for their country.
“This will keep those stories alive,” she said.
Cr Jim Child added the application to Yarra Ranges Council would also be enshrined in the official minutes of the council marking the role of Lilydale Primary School, and the students before the council, in achieving recognition for Mr Goode.
“You have left that legacy and you should be very proud of that,” he said.
